Push push switch



July 24, 1962 R. w. FRASER PUSH PUSH SWITCH 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 19, 1960 o3 1 A w// V///%/A% Invienior. Baker? W Frase Z3 July 24, 1962 R. w. FRASER 3,046,377

PUSH PUSH SWITCH Filed Oct. 19, 1960 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I.lll|l llllll' Inter afar.

United States Patent Orifice 3,046,377 Patented July 24, 1962 3,046,377 PUSH PUSH SWITCH Robert. W. Fraser, Framingham, Mass, assignor to United-CarrFastener Corporation, Cambridge, Mass, a corporation of Delaware Filed Oct. 19, 1960, Ser. No. 63,537 2 Claims. (Cl. 200-153) The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in electric switches and more particularly to such improvements in the actuator mechanism.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an electric switch of the push-push type.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide an electric switch having a cam operated actuator mechanism.

More specifically, it is an object in a more limited sense to have said cam operated actuator mechanism cooperatively engage -a shoulder in the switch housing.

Other objects of the invention will, in part, be obvious, and will, in part, appear hereinafter.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of the switch assembly;

FIG. 2 is a section taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1 with the movable contact in primary position;

FIG. 3 is the same as FIG. 2 with the movable contact in a secondary position;

FIG. 4 is a front elevation of the assembly with the front cover of housing removed and the remaining cover and plug button in section;

FIG. 5 is a section taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a section taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 7 is a bottom plan view of the switch assembly.

The switch illustrated is of the type adapted to act as a single pole, single throw type, it can, however, be easily converted to a single pole, double throw type or to a two circuit type byadding components. This conversion would be extremely simple to one acquainted with the art.

Referring now to the drawings, the switch assembly 10 comprises generally a housing 12, a plunger 14, an actuator mechanism, a pair of stationary contacts 18, a movable contact 20, and a pierced plug button 22, said housing 12 is formed of an insulating material such as plastic and comprises a main portion or body 24 and a mating portion. The body 24 is held on the mating portion by any suitable means such as the enclosure '27. The body 24 and the mating portion are formed identically in all respects and the description of one will also apply to the other. The body 24 is in the form of alongitudinal section of a tube and is delineated into three major portions. The said three major portions consist generally of a plunger portion, a chamber and a contact portion, each of said portions in integral relationship as will be hereinafter described. The said plunger portion has inside and outside diameters less than those of the remaining portions of said body 24 and has a channel 34 adjacent a bearing shoulder 36 which is located between the said plunger portion and the chamber, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. A notch 38 is formed through said bearing shoulder 36 running from said plunger portion to said chamber. In the switch illustrated, the notch 38 is rectangular in form although it may be any required geometric configuration which will satisfactorily accomplish the function hereinafter to be set forth.

The bearing shoulder 36 also has an arcuate pin groove 40 formed from the outside Wall of said plunger portion to the opposed outside wall of said plunger portion in right angle relationship with the axis of said body 24 as shown in FIG. 4. An arcuate collet 42 having substantially the same form as a plan view of the bearing shoulder 36 is superimposed on the said bearing shoulder t! 36 with its arcuate portion set within the channel 34 and having a notch similar in size and form to said notch 38 as best shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The axis of the notch of said collet 42 is in superimposed parallel relationship with the axis of said notch 38. The said contact portion comprises a thickened inner wall forming a diameter approximately equal to the diameter of the plunger portion. The said thickened inner wall comprises a pair of guide portions 44 having opposed flat surfaces in spaced substantially, parallel relationship. The remaining portion of said thickened inner wall connecting the said guide portions 44 and in integral right angle relationship also has a flat 46 formed on the surface nearest the axis of the contact portion as best shown in FIG. 4.

The said guide portions 44 and the said flat 46 function to prevent the moveable contact 26 from wobbling when in motion and to stiffen the contact portion. A pair of slots 48 are for-med in the surface of the flat 46 to accept the stationary contacts 18 in a manner to be hereinafter set forth. The chamber lies in integral relationship with and between said plunger portion and said contact portion, said chamber 30 has an inner diameter slightly greater than the inner diameter of said plunger portion. v

The plunger 14 has an end extending beyond the housing 12 through a channel formed therein and has a flange 50 which rests against a shoulder formed in said plunger portion as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 when said plunger 14 is at rest.

The actuator mechanism comprises an actuator, a piston member, a compression spring 56 and an insulating sleeve. The actuator comprises a shaft 60 of substan-. tially flat material, such as sheet steel, an arcuate cap 62 in integral relationship with one end of said shaft 60 and a ball element 64 in the form of a sector of a circle of greater than formed at the opposite end of said shaft 6%. The shaft 66 has a pin Wall 68 defining an elliptical aperture. Aportion of said pin wall 68 is adjacent the cap 62 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

The piston member comprises a cylindrical shouldered head portion 7 t) and an integral cylindrical thrust portion 72 of less diameter than said head portion 70. The compression spring 56 engages the shouldered head portion 70 and circumscribes said thrust portion 72 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. On the opposite side of said head portion 70 from said thrust member 72, an arcuate groove. 74 is formed to engage the said ball element 64. A

The sleeve comprises a sleeve element 76 having an internal diameter slightly greater than the diameter of said thrust member 72. The thrust member '72 passes between the walls of the sleeve element 76 and said sleeve element 76 is circumscribed by the opposite end;

of said compression spring 56 from that circumscribing said thrust member 72. a I

One terminal end of the sleeve element 76 is shouldered to act as a stop for the said compression spring.

The moveable contact 20 comprises a pair of solid cylindrical conductive forms 78 connected by a rod'of lesser diameter than said conductive forms 78 creating the impression of an exercise dumbbell. A connector element 80.is formed integral'with said shouldered terminal end of said sleeve element 76 and an arcuate 12, as set forth heretofore, a pin 41 is placed in abutting relationship with and between the walls of said pin groove 40 after being passed between said wall 68 of the shaft 60 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, whereby the shaft 60 is moveably suspended between the walls of said notch 38 and the arcuate cap 62 lies within the confines of the plunger portion of the housing 12 and the said ball 'element 64 lies within the confines of the chamber of the housing 12. The said ball element 64 of the actuator is then engaged with the head portion 70 of the piston member by placing it between the walls of the arcuate groove 74, with a portion of said element 64- abutting the arcuate wall of said groove 74. The compression spring 56 is engaged to the piston and the sleeve member as set forth heretofore and the connector element 80 is engaged to the sleeve element 76 of the insulating sleeve and to the moveable contact 20 as set forth heretofore with the conductive forms 78 urged against the lower wall of the contact portion. The two stationary contacts 18 as shown in the disclosed single pole switch are set into notches in such a way that the movement of the moveable contact 20 would on one side of the housing 12 electrically engage one of them and on the opposite side engage the other. The body of the housing and the mating portion of the housing are then pressed together so as to completely enclose the switch assembly with the exception of a portion of each of the stationary contacts 18 and the arcuate portion of the plunger 14. There are numerous methods to connect the body and mating portion of the housing 12, for example, a form of rivet could be used. However, the applicant has illustrated a cage like enclosure 27 which circumscribes the housing and holds its two parts together. A pierced plug button may then be engaged with the enclosure 27, the said plug button 22 having spring fingers 82 capable of engaging the walls of an aperture in a support with which the switch assembly 10 is to be associated. Of course, this support may be the body of an automobile, the wall of a housing or many other obvious possibilities and has therefore not been illustrated.

The switch assembly 10 operates as follows. An axial force is exerted on the plunger 14 which in turn presses against the arcuate cap 62 of the actuator. You will note that the cap 62 presses against the collet 42, thus creating a levering action when pressure is exerted on the cap 62, which in the first instance forces the lower part of the pin wall 68 toward moveable contact while at the same time tends to bring the axis of the cap 62 in parallel alignment with the axis of the plunger 14. As this axial force is continued, pressure is exerted against the compression spring 5 and because of the tendency of the axial arcuate cap 62 to align with the axis of the plunger 14, the ball element 64 rotates between the walls of the arcuate groove 74 of the piston member, thereby compressing the spring 56 and moving the shouldered head portion 70 of the piston member in a direction opposite from that in which the arcuate cap 62 has moved. The conductive form 78 of the moveable contacts 20 are, in effect, wheels and the movement of the piston memher and its associated sleeve tend to move the moveable contact against the opposite side of the housing 12 with passes the axis of the housing 12, the compression spring 56 has an opportunity to relieve its compressive tension and, in effect, snaps or throws the moveable contact 20 toward the opposite side of the housing 12. This movement of course results in the engagement of the conductive forms 78 with the stationary contact on that side. Each time the plunger is depressed, the aforesaid action occurs.

Since certain other obvious modifications may be made in this device without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained herein be interpreted in an illustrative and not in a limited sense.

I claim:

1. An electric push-push switch comprising a housing having a bearing shoulder disposed therein, a plunger, an actuator mechanism, a pair of stationary contacts and a moveable contact, said actuator mechanism having a cam element, a cam pin, a piston element, a sleeve element, and a compression coil spring, said cam element comprising an arcuate head portion having a support surface for moveable engagement with said bearing shoulder, an elongated shaft portion provided with a means for moveably engaging said cam pin, and a knuckle por tion, said plunger having a surface for engagement with said arcuate head portion, said piston element having means for engaging said knuckle portion and means for slidably engaging said sleeve element, said sleeve element partially circumscribing a portion of said piston element, portions of said sleeve element and said piston element circumscribed by said compression spring and said sleeve element having means for engaging said moveable contact whereby pressure on said plunger will snap said moveable contact from one stationary contact to the other.

2. An electric switch comprising a housing having a bearing shoulder disposed therein, a plunger, an actuator mechanism, a pair of stationary contacts and a moveable contact, said actuator mechanism having an actuator, an actuator pin, a piston member, an insulating sleeve member and a compression spring, said actuator comprising a substantially flat metal shaft, an arcuate cap having at least two shoulders, in integral relation with one end of said shaft, an operating element formed at the opposite end of said shaft, and a pin wall defining an elliptical aperture on said shaft, said plunger having a surface for engagement with the arcuate portion of said cap, said piston member comprising a head portion and a thrust portion extending from said head portion, said insulating sleeve having a tubular sleeve element open at one end and means at the opposite end for operatively engaging said movable contact, a portion of said tubular sleeve element patrially circumscribing a portion of said thrust portion said head portion having means for operatively engaging said piston member, said tubular sleeve element and said thrust portion circumscribed by said compression spring, whereby pressure on said plunger will snap said movable contact from one stationary contact to the other.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,044,065 Douglas June 16, 1936 2,623,960 Haydon Dec. 30, 1952 2,668,204 Tregoning Feb. 2, 1954 2,881,292 Winter et al. Apr. 7, 1959 

